Work on mental focus paying off for Romo

By Ryan Hood / MLB.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- After losing his closer's role in late June, Sergio Romo vowed redemption if and when he got another chance to save a game. Redemption was had on Saturday, as Romo closed the Giants' 6-5 victory. It was his first save since June 22.

"It felt good to contribute, but I didn't really look at it as another save opportunity," Romo said Sunday. "Even through it all, I've been put in situations where one pitch can be the difference in the game, so I feel that the inning is the main thing that's changed for me."

Well, that and the mental adjustments he said he's made. A more consistent focus is the key to more consistent success, and he believes he's fixed that problem.

"Every outing, whether it's been good or bad, the difference has been that one pitch," Romo said. "If I can execute on a more consistent basis, then I like my chances because I trust myself.

"I'm in the Majors for a reason. I've got good enough stuff to compete. Just focus on executing, that's all I've been trying to do."

After striking out three and allowing a hit in a scoreless inning Sunday, Romo is 23-for-28 in save opportunities this season and has a 4.24 ERA in 46 2/3 innings.

Panik day to day after dislocating left pinkie

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants second baseman Joe Panik dislocated his left pinkie finger after sliding headfirst into second base in the eighth inning Sunday. He stayed in the game to eventually score despite the pain, but was removed for the next half-inning.

After the Giants' 5-2 victory over the Phillies, Panik said X-rays were "fine" and that he views the injury as day to day.

"We'll see how it feels tomorrow," Panik said.

Head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner relocated the finger.

"I'm too much of a chicken to do that," Panik joked after the game.

It's easy to see why he'd be jovial: He's hitting .439 (18-for-41) in his last 12 games.

Giants concerned after Sanchez rattled again

SAN FRANCISCO -- A vicious foul tip to the mask Saturday prematurely ended a second consecutive game at Triple-A for Hector Sanchez, whose rehab assignment to recover from a similar blow is now on hold. Sanchez left Friday's game early with back spasms.

Manager Bruce Bochy said before Sunday's game that Sanchez is back in San Francisco to be evaluated by team physicians. Sanchez had to be helped off the field by teammates Saturday and was dizzy and dry-heaving, according to Bochy.

"We are concerned," Bochy said. "He took a good one yesterday. I think it's going to be awhile for him."

Bochy was told that Sanchez was looking for a high fastball, so he was not in his crouch, which left the already-big-target Sanchez even more susceptible to a cranium-rattling deflection.

"Normally these things are once every couple weeks, but with him it's a couple every game," said Bochy, a former catcher. "It's unbelievable, something like I've never seen."

Injured fan Stow pays visit to Giants' clubhouse

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants welcomed a special visitor to the team's clubhouse before Sunday's game: Bryan Stow.

Jeremy Affeldt served as the de facto tour guide for Stow, the Giants fan who was brutally beaten in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on Opening Day 2011. A jury awarded $18 million in damages to Stow and his family in July.

"It's awesome," manager Bruce Bochy said of seeing Stow around the team. "All those players have to be excited to see him here at the park. After all he and his family have been through, it's great to have them here. We think about him a lot and he's talked about a lot."

Affeldt in particular has been involved with the Stow family since the attack and has donated $25,000 to help pay's Stow's medical bills.

"I believe in humanity and I believe in fighting against injustices that take place against humanity," Affeldt said after the jury's decision. "Poverty is one of them, but so are those kinds of things where you can basically jump a guy and beat him into oblivion like that and do that much damage to a man who's got kids.

"Over what? A baseball game? Wins and losses that have absolutely no bearing on anybody's life at this point in time? Whether we won or lost that game ... they just ruined that guy's life."

Ryan Hood is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @ryanhood19. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.